Does Communication Matter in Relationships? The Association Between Relationship-Cultivation Strategies and Government–Public Relationships in Sport-Event Management

A deficiency of coordination and long-term beneficial relationships between host cities’ governments and residents could turn the hosting process into a social exercise. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of government–public relationships (GPR) formation in the Olympic and Paralympic Games context, focusing on the roles of relationship-cultivation strategies (RCS) and perceived authenticity. Specifically, it investigated perceived authenticity’s mediating role between RCS and GPR. Data (N = 500) were obtained from Tokyo residents via quota sampling with assistance from an international research company based in Japan. A two-step procedure employing structural equation modeling was applied to assess the measurement model’s psychometrical quality and to examine the hypotheses of the structural model. The results confirm all hypothesized relationships, indicating that the proposed research model effectively explains the complex formation of GPR. The second order of RCS was identified as an antecedent, and the mediation effect of perceived authenticity was confirmed. The findings suggest that residents of a host city who perceive their government as being authentic and having proper RCS initiatives tend to build better relationships with the local government. This novel finding highlights the importance of the RCS and authentic communication in forming GPR, providing a legitimate foundation for public support in mega-sport-event contexts.